Portable snow melting device

Abstract

A snow melter, comprising a melting assembly and a handle assembly. The melting assembly comprises a melting plate which contains an electric heating element. The melting assembly also has a top plate which is made of an insulating material, and a bottom plate which is porous or has a grating for allowing snow to contact the melting plate but prevents the user from inadvertently contacting the melting plate. The handle assembly has a proximal end having upper and lower handgrips, and a distal end which attaches to the melting assembly. The distal end is preferably attached to the melting assembly at an operating angle which is substantially ten to twenty five degrees from a normal line to the point of attachment between the handle assembly and the melting assembly. An extension cord connects the melting plate to a power source, and is preferably mounted on a spring loaded spool which is located near the distal end of the handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A snow melting device, for use upon a ground surface comprising: a melting assembly, extending horizontally and parallel to the ground surface and comprising a melting plate which has an electric heating element wherein the melting assembly further comprises an upper plate and a lower plate, the melting plate is located between the upper plate and lower plate, the upper plate is made of a heat insulating material, the lower plate is porous to allow the melting plate to contact snow to be melted but to prevent people from inadvertently contacting the melting plate;   a handle assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end attached to the melting assembly for selectively lifting the melting assembly from the ground, the handle assembly comprises an upper handle, a lower handle, and a middle handle, the upper handle is located at the proximal end of the handle assembly, the lower handle is located at the distal end of the handle assembly, the middle handle is located between the upper handle and lower handle;   an extension cord for attaching the melting plate to a distant power source; and a pair of grips, including an upper grip and a lower grip located on the upper handle, wherein the upper grip extends perpendicular to the upper handle and extends substantially toward the melting assembly, and the lower grip extends perpendicular to the upper handle and extends substantially away from the melting assembly.   
     
     
       2. The snow melting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the handle assembly is attached to the melting assembly at an operating angle which varies from normal by substantially ten to twenty five degrees. 
     
     
       3. The snow melting assembly as recited in claim 2, further comprising a spool mounted near the distal end of the handle assembly, for allowing convenient extension and retraction of the extension cord according to how close or far the snow melter is from the power source. 
     
     
       4. The snow melting assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein the upper handle, lower handle and middle handle telescope in length.